As 2025 comes to a close, we take a look at the top 10 stories from Augustana University over the last year.

March

✨ Vikings Partner With Vikings and Other NCAA Institutions to Launch Collegiate Women's Flag Football League

In March 2025, Augustana began partnering with the Minnesota Vikings and five other NCAA institutions to launch a new collegiate women's flag football league. Thanks to support from the Vikings (and NFL), the program at Augustana has the financial foundation to succeed with potential pathways for increased recognition and competition in the future. The league competes in jamborees, as well as a championship tournament at TCO Stadium. In Spring 2025 - the league's inaugural year - Augustana finished in second place, having competed in the championship game.

April

✨ Augustana University Receives Transformational Gift From Elmen Family to Begin Elmen Center Revitalization Project

Augustana has raised the estimated $2.9 million needed to revitalize the Elmen Center, located on the southwest corner of 33rd Street and Grange Avenue on the university's campus. The Bob '52 & Rita (Hale) Elmen Family Foundation and the James '60 & Eloise (Saugstad) '61 Elmen Foundation contributed $2 million to the project. Augustana began making updates this past spring with the anticipated project completion by Fall 2026.

✨ Augustana University Partners With Lloyd Companies to Break Ground on $12 Million Apartment Building for Students

As part of a ceremony hosted by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Augustana broke ground on Foundation Heights, a new apartment building for students located on the northeast corner of 28th Street and Grange Avenue. The approximately $12 million project is part of the university's strategic plan - Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 - to transform the physical campus to include new and enhanced facilities. Construction on Foundation Heights is expected to be complete by Fall 2026.

May

✨ $1 Million Matching Gift Provides Foundation for Augustana University to Establish De & Dave Knudson Center for Global Engagement

As part of a ceremony held in May, Augustana dedicated the De & Dave Knudson Center for Global Engagement - previously known as the International Programs Office (IPO). With the creation of the De & Dave Knudson Center for Global Engagement, housed in the Administration Building on campus, Augustana's goal is to provide more than just essential services, but to better prepare students for an interconnected world in which we live.

June

✨ Ole's Outlet Opens as Augustana Takes Over Management of University Merchandise Stores

Ole's Outlet, located in Augustana's Morrison Commons, officially reopened in June 2025 after the university began managing both of its on-campus merchandise stores. Ole's Outlet and the SKOL Shop were being managed by the local retailer - MRG Sports & Promotion - the last three years.

✨ Augustana University to Launch Second Doctorate, OTD Program in Fall 2026

Augustana is embarking on its second doctorate program in three years. The Augustana Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, housed within the university's School of Health Professions, is set to launch in Fall 2026. Augustana's OTD is an accelerated, hybrid, entry-level or pre-licensure program designed to meet adult learners where they're at in life. The hands-on component of the program, known as lab immersions, will take place in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

September

✨ Augustana Welcomes Largest Ever Incoming Class, Student Body in University's 165-Year History

Augustana welcomed a total of 2,548 students for Academic Year 2025-26 - the largest student body in the university's 165-year history. The student body includes 2,143 total undergraduates, which is the largest overall undergraduate headcount at Augustana in 35 years. Among those undergraduates, a total of 615 full-time first-year students chose to find their bold at AU - an all-time record high and a 15% increase from last year. Augustana also set a record for the overall number of graduate students in the university's history with 405.

✨ A Half-Century of Learning, Laughter and Love: Augustana's CLC Celebrates 50th Anniversary

This past September, during Augustana's homecoming week, the Campus Learning Center (CLC) invited family and friends of the CLC to reflect on its history and help celebrate its 50th Anniversary. The celebration provided an opportunity for those who had a connection to the CLC to reminisce - whether their memories were made at Old Main, OSL or somewhere in between.

✨ Augustana Partners With Our Savior's Lutheran Church to Host Bach Collegium

Our Savior's Lutheran Church (OSL) began hosting the performances of the Augustana School of Music's ensemble - the Augustana Bach Collegium. Thanks to support from Dr. Greg '74 and Karen (Devick) Schultz '75, the Augustana Bach Collegium is performing its fall and spring events at OSL over the next four years. The first took place on Sunday, Oct. 5, in collaboration with the Augustana Choir.

December

✨ Augustana University Awarded $5 Million Grant in National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life

Augustana was awarded a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for the "promotion and support of religious, educational or charitable purposes." Augustana is one of 48 recipients in Lilly Endowment's National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life 2025. With support from Lilly Endowment, Augustana will launch a 5-year storytelling initiative, "Sacred Discoveries: Stories of Christian Flourishing in College," in January 2026.

For more Augustana University news, visit augie.edu/news.